Agricultural Careers
Veterinarian Technician
By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Jennie Simpson
Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office
Georgia Department of Education
June 2005
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What Is a Veterinarian Technician?
•Owners of pets and other animals today expect state-of-the-art veterinary care.
•To provide this service, veterinarians use the skills of veterinary technologists
and technicians, who perform many of the same duties for a veterinarian that a
nurse would for a physician; including routine laboratory and clinical procedures.
•Veterinary technicians conduct clinical work in a private practice under
the supervision of a veterinarian.
•They perform laboratory tests such as
urinalysis and blood counts, assist
with dental cleanings, prepare tissue
samples, take blood samples,
or assist veterinarians.
Duties of Veterinarian Technicians
•Serve as a general technician or may concentrate
on patient care, laboratory work, or office
management.
•A veterinary technician can do most of the vet’s
work, therefore increasing the patient load for the
clinic.
•The vet must diagnose sicknesses, prescribe
medicines and perform surgery, but the
technician is the one responsible for handling the
majority of the procedures.
•Veterinary technicians may get the animal’s
history, discuss the animal’s condition with the
owner, and perform a physical examination.
•Vaccinate for rabies and other diseases, and
collect blood or other samples for laboratory tests.
•The technician assists the vet with surgery and
gives the anesthesia.
Becoming a Veterinarian Technician
•A veterinarian technician must have a strong love and compassion for animals
and for their owners who may be upset over their pets’ medical condition.
•They need to have the ability to remain calm and controlled in crisis situations.
•They should also be excellent communicators and possess quality people skills
since a majority if their work will be done with the clients.
•They should also be orderly and patient to help the hastiness of the environment
flow better.
Education
•There is a 2-year program for veterinary
technicians and a 4-year program for veterinary
technologists.
•Most entry-level veterinary technicians have a 2year degree, an Associate of Applied Science degree.
•A few colleges offer veterinary technology
programs that are longer and may culminate in a 4year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology.
•Technicians are required to intern with a veterinary
clinic, zoological garden, research facility, or
teaching institution before graduation.
•Knowledge of common domestic animals, drug
names, and laboratory procedure is expected.
Employment
•Median earnings of veterinary technologists and technicians were $22,950 in 2002.
•The middle 50 percent earned between $19,210 and $27,890.
•The bottom 10 percent earned less than $16,170, and the top 10 percent earned more
than $33,750.
•Employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is expected to grow much
faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2012.
•Strong competition is expected in zoos, due to expected slow growth in zoo capacity,
low turnover among workers, the limited number of positions, and the fact that the
occupation attracts many candidates.
Related Careers
•Animal Trainer
•Laboratory Animal Manager
•Pet Care Worker
•Veterinarian
•Veterinary Assistant
•Zoo Keeper
Career Resources
American Veterinarian Medical Association
931 N Meacham Rd, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Internet: http://www.avma.org/
National Association of Federal Veterinarians
1101 Vermont Avenue NW
Suite 710, Washington DC 20005
Internet: http://www.nafv.org
American Animal Hospital Association
P.O. Box 150899
Denver, Colorado 80215-0899
Internet: http://www.healthypet.com
Association of American Veterinary Medical
Colleges
1101 Vermont Ave. NW Suite 301
Washington, DC 20005
Internet: http://www.aavmc.org